This paper proposes a collision model for ships underway and temporary objects as an extension to state-of-the-art maritime risk assessment like IALA iWrap MkII. It gives a brief review of frequency modeling's and consequence calculation theory as well as its applications, before it analogously derives a model to assess the risk of anchorage are...

This paper proposes a collision model for ships underway and temporary objects as an extension to state-of-the-art maritime risk assessment like IALA iWrap MkII. It gives a brief review of frequency modeling's and consequence calculation theory as well as its applications, before it analogously derives a model to assess the risk of anchorage areas. Subsequently, its benefit is demonstrated by an example scenario. Minimize

Study protocol of Prednisone in episodic Cluster Headache (PredCH): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral prednisone as an add-on therapy in the prophylactic treatment of episodic cluster headache with verapamil

Molecular detection of Bordetella pertussis DNA is a sensitive and specific method for the rapid diagnosis of pertussis. In this study, a new molecular assay for the detection and differentiation of Bordetella spp. based on automated DNA extraction and real-time PCR was evaluated. The analytical sensitivity of the new assay was determined by Pro...

Molecular detection of Bordetella pertussis DNA is a sensitive and specific method for the rapid diagnosis of pertussis. In this study, a new molecular assay for the detection and differentiation of Bordetella spp. based on automated DNA extraction and real-time PCR was evaluated. The analytical sensitivity of the new assay was determined by Probit analysis of serial dilutions of both cloned PCR products IS481 and IS1001 and cell suspensions of B. pertussis, B. parapertussis, and B. bronchiseptica. The specificity was analyzed by testing a number of pathogens producing respiratory infections. Moreover, a total of 92 clinical samples were investigated. The results were compared to those obtained by an in-house assay based on manual DNA extraction, followed by real-time PCR and detection of IS481. The analytical sensitivity of the new assay for the detection of IS481 and IS1001 was determined to be 2.2 and 1.2 genome equivalents/μl, respectively. The analytical sensitivity for the detection of B. pertussis, B. parapertussis, and B. bronchiseptica was determined to be 1.6, 1.0, and 2.7 genome equivalents/μl, respectively. When clinical specimens were tested with the new assay, 46 of 92 were found to be positive for Bordetella DNA. With the in-house assay, 45 samples tested positive. The new molecular assay proved to be suitable for the rapid diagnosis of pertussis in the routine diagnostic laboratory. Minimize

During influenza virus infection, viral ribonucleoproteins (vRNPs) are replicated in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm before assembling into mature viral particles. Nuclear export is mediated by the cellular protein Crm1 and putatively by the viral protein NEP/NS2. Proteolytic cleavage of NEP defines an N-terminal domain which m...

During influenza virus infection, viral ribonucleoproteins (vRNPs) are replicated in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm before assembling into mature viral particles. Nuclear export is mediated by the cellular protein Crm1 and putatively by the viral protein NEP/NS2. Proteolytic cleavage of NEP defines an N-terminal domain which mediates RanGTP-dependent binding to Crm1 and a C- terminal domain which binds to the viral matrix protein M1. The 2.6 Å crystal structure of the C-terminal domain reveals an amphipathic helical hairpin which dimerizes as a four-helix bundle. The NEP–M1 interaction involves two critical epitopes: an exposed tryptophan (Trp78) surrounded by a cluster of glutamate residues on NEP, and the basic nuclear localization signal (NLS) of M1. Implications for vRNP export are discussed. Minimize

Study protocol of Prednisone in episodic Cluster Headache (PredCH): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral prednisone as an add-on therapy in the prophylactic treatment of episodic cluster headache with verapamil

Abstract Background Episodic cluster headache (ECH) is a primary headache disorder that severely impairs patient’s quality of life. First-line therapy in the initiation of a prophylactic treatment is verapamil. Due to its delayed onset of efficacy and the necessary slow titration of dosage for tolerability reasons prednisone is frequently added ...

Abstract Background Episodic cluster headache (ECH) is a primary headache disorder that severely impairs patient’s quality of life. First-line therapy in the initiation of a prophylactic treatment is verapamil. Due to its delayed onset of efficacy and the necessary slow titration of dosage for tolerability reasons prednisone is frequently added by clinicians to the initial prophylactic treatment of a cluster episode. This treatment strategy is thought to effectively reduce the number and intensity of cluster attacks in the beginning of a cluster episode (before verapamil is effective). This study will assess the efficacy and safety of oral prednisone as an add-on therapy to verapamil and compare it to a monotherapy with verapamil in the initial prophylactic treatment of a cluster episode. Methods and design PredCH is a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with parallel study arms. Eligible patients with episodic cluster headache will be randomized to a treatment intervention with prednisone or a placebo arm. The multi-center trial will be conducted in eight German headache clinics that specialize in the treatment of ECH. Discussion PredCH is designed to assess whether oral prednisone added to first-line agent verapamil helps reduce the number and intensity of cluster attacks in the beginning of a cluster episode as compared to monotherapy with verapamil. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00004716 Minimize

Unmanned ships is an interesting proposal to implement slow steaming and saving fuel while avoiding that the crew has to stay on board for very long deep-sea passages. To maintain efficiency and safety, autonomy has to be implemented to enable the ship to operate without requiring the SCC to continuously control the ship. Communication between s...

Unmanned ships is an interesting proposal to implement slow steaming and saving fuel while avoiding that the crew has to stay on board for very long deep-sea passages. To maintain efficiency and safety, autonomy has to be implemented to enable the ship to operate without requiring the SCC to continuously control the ship. Communication between ship and a shore control center (SCC) is therefore critical for the unmanned ship and proper safety and security precautions are required, including sufficient redundancy and backup solutions. Communication systems should be able to supply at least 4 Megabits/second for full remote control from SCC, but reduced operation can be maintained at down to 125 kilobits/second. In autonomous mode, the required communication bandwidth will be very low. For an autonomous ship the higher bandwidth requirements are from ship to shore which is the opposite of the situation for normal ships. Cost and availability of communication is an issue. The use of technical and functional indexes will enable the SCC to monitor the status of the ship at minimum load on operators and on the communication systems. The security and integrity of information transfers is crucial and appropriate means must be taken to ensure failure tolerance and fail to safe properties of the system. Minimize